Earlier this year, in January, reports revealed that YouTube boxer KSI was in advanced talks with former UFC champion Conor McGregor for a boxing match. This followed the buzz that ‘The Notorious’ with WWE star Logan Paul for a similar fight with a $250 million purse. However, since then, both potential matchups are in the grave. 

After Paul distanced himself from the fight, KSI showed interest in the bout, which could have drawn huge commercial interest. KSI’s manager, Mams Taylor, bolstered the fight claims by suggesting that the talks between KSI and McGregor were reaching somewhere with each passing moment. 

“There are talks taking place, and talks are leading to more talks,” Taylor told TalkSport previously. “I know he’s interested for a fact. I think no fight makes more sense than this fight for Conor.” He had speculated that the potential KSI-McGregor fight could break records and become one of the top five biggest-selling pay-per-views of all time.

Despite the confidence in making the fight come to life, it eventually fell apart. The English YouTube star was then expected to fight controversial mixed martial artist, Dillon Danis, with whom a previous bout was cancelled because Danis claimed he was underprepared. Regardless, when the time came, it was KSI who pulled out of the fight against Danis. 

Now, Mams Taylor has shed light on why the McGregor bout never happened while appearing in an interview with Misfits News. “We were told it was a done deal,” Taylor told the host of the show. When asked whether the architect of the Riyadh Season, Turki Alalshikh, was involved in the negotiations, KSI’s manager confirmed, “Yes.”

Taylor said they were discussing the fight to take place on Alcatraz Island. This also coincides with reports that suggested The Ring was plotting a boxing event at the famous prison. Nonetheless, when asked about why the fight fell through, Taylor revealed a reason. And it showed something about Conor McGregor that fits with the news now.

The issue with Conor McGregor vs. KSI 

Reflecting on why the fight never happened, Taylor claimed he wasn’t part of the negotiations with Conor McGregor. “I don’t know exactly because I wasn’t part of the negotiations with Conor,” Taylor told the host. But he seems to have an idea about the real reason. “But I think Conor made a statement recently about that and addressed it subtly.”

Taylor was referring to Conor’s statement during last month’s BKFC Hollywood press conference. In that a potential retirement from combat sports came up as the reason. “My heart bleeds for my country right now. I’m happy with what I’ve done. There’s something else for me that’s in my gut right now,” the 36-year-old said. 

The former UFC star later expressed interest in running for president of Ireland in the 2025 election as an independent candidate. While his bid for the presidency has had its challenges, Taylor thinks that the main issue, which caused the fight’s cancellation, is his political ambition. “You know, he wants to be a politician.”

That said, Conor McGregor doesn’t seem interested in stepping into the boxing ring or the octagon. As for KSI, he clearly missed out on a potential multi-million dollar fight. What do you think Conor McGregor is really up to? Do you think he would ever return to fighting?